Tribeca 2008 Short Film Reviews

TRIBECA 2008 Short Films Review

Reviews by: Tobe A. Roberts IV

Last Time in Clerkenwell (4 min): Animation, Comedy The Royal Bird Legion has its sights set on world domination. Paired with the musical overtones, Clerkenwell is expertly produced. The black and white contrast cinematically creates a rigidity and martinet qualities that the legion possesses. Well done and just purely entertaining. **** Kirksdale (22 min.): Horror A Southern mental hospital is the stage for horror at Kirksdale Hospital. This is a nail biting film, with all the makings for a fright fest. Musically, it sets the tone with suspenseful moments which build to a climax. Acting is above par, and I consider it a heavy hitter in the short film competition. Set in rural 1960s, Florida, the eeriness and sadistic overtones is classic horror at its best. **** Zombie Gets a Date (3 min): Animation, Kids A Zombie and his not so enthralled dinner date. Tensions are high as this undead single is looking for amor. Really entertaining and funny. In fact, the premise is enough to get you laughing and hooked. *** ½ The Aviatrix (10 min.): Science Fiction/Supernatural, Drama A woman faced with life and death combats her affliction in the form of her intergalactic fantasy life. Visual FX was promising, and plot-wise was interesting, however, it never got off the launch pad. The dialogue was flatter than one month old soda which made the film crash and burn. ** Yellow Sticky Notes (6 min): Animation Life as expressed in yellow sticky notes. Cleverly crafted, “Yellow Sticky Notes”, takes us on the journey of the filmmaker and his life reflected in these can’t be without memory savers. Set to music, we follow his film career path, and interpersonal relationships along the way. Using only a single black pen and these 2300 + post-it pads, the depth of storytelling is evident. It’s sheer rawness creates its appeal. Resourcefulness is the mother of new phenomenal films. ***** Goldfish (13 min): Comedy, Youth Two third grade girls take on a mission to save imprisoned goldfish. Suzy and Jenny take their mission seriously to liberate school goldfish. After viewing “Finding Nemo” nearly a dozen or so times, it’s their duty to send the fish back to their parents who they think are searching the entire ocean for their offspring. Hilarious story. Great acting which was reminiscent of “Ferris Bueller”. Mindy Sterling (“Austin Powers”) plays the girls’ teacher who first cautions the students about their captive fish. Great film! ***** New Boy (11 min): Coming of Age, Drama It’s tough being the new boy in school. Based on a short story, this story about a nine year old boy from Africa, named Joseph who struggles with trying to fit in his new school. Silent yet aware of everything around him, Joseph’s inner spirit and heart is ironclad. Adapting to his new surroundings and being the only child of color in his class, has made him a target for class bullies. Standing proud of where he came from (with flashbacks at his old school with his father), Joseph’s defiant nature while standing up to these bullies, causes the tide to turn in his favor. Wonderfully told without being verbose, “Newboy”, is a coming of age film, not to be forgotten. **** 1/2